I got asked a great question a little while ago, which was whether or not I have any book
I got asked a great question a little while ago, which was whether or not I have any book

recommendations!
recommendations!

And as it happens I think there are a number of really useful books that relate to both
And as it happens I think there are a number of really useful books that relate to both

the workshop stuff and to, you know, knifemaking in general.
the workshop stuff and to, you know, knifemaking in general.

So this is the first book, it's called "Machine Shop Essentials". And this is just a fantastic
So this is the first book, it's called "Machine Shop Essentials". And this is just a fantastic

book for anyone that's getting started out with metalworking, it covers everything from
book for anyone that's getting started out with metalworking, it covers everything from

hand tools, like hacksaws and files and screwdriveers and so on, all the way up to milling machines
hand tools, like hacksaws and files and screwdriveers and so on, all the way up to milling machines

and lathes. It just gives you a really good overview of what tools are available to you
and lathes. It just gives you a really good overview of what tools are available to you

as a metalworker and how to use them.
as a metalworker and how to use them.

I highly, highly, recommend it. It's one of the books that really helped me out when I
I highly, highly, recommend it. It's one of the books that really helped me out when I

was getting started. Very useful!
was getting started. Very useful!

And then, as an add-on to "Machine Shop Essentials", there's a second book by the same author called
And then, as an add-on to "Machine Shop Essentials", there's a second book by the same author called

"Machine Shop Know How". I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for a beginner that doesn't
"Machine Shop Know How". I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for a beginner that doesn't

have a lathe or a milling machine, but if you do have a lathe and a milling machine
have a lathe or a milling machine, but if you do have a lathe and a milling machine

and you're still learning how to use them, then this book is actually really great! It
and you're still learning how to use them, then this book is actually really great! It

teaches you a lot of really interesting things, particularly about work-holding and squaring
teaches you a lot of really interesting things, particularly about work-holding and squaring

up stock and that kind of stuff.
up stock and that kind of stuff.

So my third recommendation is actually on a very different note: this book is called
So my third recommendation is actually on a very different note: this book is called

"The New Science of Strong Materials" and it's basically a primer on materials science.
"The New Science of Strong Materials" and it's basically a primer on materials science.

Masonry which is strong in compression, wood which is a fantastic natural material, metals
Masonry which is strong in compression, wood which is a fantastic natural material, metals

for cutting tools, so on and so forth... It asks questions and gives explanations about
for cutting tools, so on and so forth... It asks questions and gives explanations about

why these materials are strong, how they actually work on a molecular and atomic level, and
why these materials are strong, how they actually work on a molecular and atomic level, and

how to best utilize them in a larger structure.
how to best utilize them in a larger structure.

It's a bit of a dry topic but he writes it in such a way that it keeps you entertained,
It's a bit of a dry topic but he writes it in such a way that it keeps you entertained,

I really enjoyed this book!
I really enjoyed this book!

So as a complement to the previous book, the same author has another book called "Structures".
So as a complement to the previous book, the same author has another book called "Structures".

The basic premise of this book is to explain how we can make structures out of various
The basic premise of this book is to explain how we can make structures out of various

materials that will support the loads that we need them to.
materials that will support the loads that we need them to.

So, you know, how basic structures, like trusses and so on, how they actually work in terms
So, you know, how basic structures, like trusses and so on, how they actually work in terms

of distributing say a hanging force into tension and compression and shear and how you can
of distributing say a hanging force into tension and compression and shear and how you can

design structures around those forces! If you are interested in product design or, you
design structures around those forces! If you are interested in product design or, you

know, just getting a better handle on why a building doesn't fall down, for instance,
know, just getting a better handle on why a building doesn't fall down, for instance,

this book is really great! A good primer, it's really really fantastic. Both this and
this book is really great! A good primer, it's really really fantastic. Both this and

"The New Science of Strong Materials" both changed how I looked at making things.
"The New Science of Strong Materials" both changed how I looked at making things.

So the next book is called "The Design of Everyday Things". The basic idea of this book
So the next book is called "The Design of Everyday Things". The basic idea of this book

is to talk about how the things that are around us, and the things that we design, communicate
is to talk about how the things that are around us, and the things that we design, communicate

to people how they're supposed to be used. This book is probably a little bit more esoteric
to people how they're supposed to be used. This book is probably a little bit more esoteric

than the others, maybe a bit less applicable unless you're designing things every day but
than the others, maybe a bit less applicable unless you're designing things every day but

I still think it's a really fantastic book and I would definitely recommend it!
I still think it's a really fantastic book and I would definitely recommend it!

And then the very last one that I would recommend overall is actually not one that you'll probably
And then the very last one that I would recommend overall is actually not one that you'll probably

have to buy! In fact the company will probably send you this for free. Having a read through
have to buy! In fact the company will probably send you this for free. Having a read through

a tooling catalog like this is really fantastic for a bunch of reasons. The most obvious being
a tooling catalog like this is really fantastic for a bunch of reasons. The most obvious being

that you'll then know what your local supplier has on hand and what you can get to help you
that you'll then know what your local supplier has on hand and what you can get to help you

make things. All of a sudden you'll have a much better idea of the just incredible range
make things. All of a sudden you'll have a much better idea of the just incredible range

of tooling that's used in a bunch of different applications, and how that can be useful to
of tooling that's used in a bunch of different applications, and how that can be useful to

you at some point!
you at some point!

It's not really a book, it's a catalog, but I still really recommend having a look through
It's not really a book, it's a catalog, but I still really recommend having a look through

one of these things and just learning more about all of the crazy tooling that's out
one of these things and just learning more about all of the crazy tooling that's out

there!
there!

So those are all my book recommendations for the moment guys! I hope that some of them
So those are all my book recommendations for the moment guys! I hope that some of them

are useful to you, as I said a couple of the books in there really changed my way of thinking
are useful to you, as I said a couple of the books in there really changed my way of thinking

in terms of how I make and design things, and I think that's pretty huge! That's a huge
in terms of how I make and design things, and I think that's pretty huge! That's a huge

impact for an author to have, so I hope that some of them have the same effect for you!
impact for an author to have, so I hope that some of them have the same effect for you!

To make things easy I've placed links to the books underneath the video, that way you can
To make things easy I've placed links to the books underneath the video, that way you can

just click through to Amazon and get them really easily.
just click through to Amazon and get them really easily.

Let me know if they're useful to you. There'll be more videos coming soon!
Let me know if they're useful to you. There'll be more videos coming soon!